Ouida Jeffers parked her small rental car in a pay lot and walked the last two blocks to Daedalus's rented apartment. The heavy rain had stopped, and now thin curtains of steam rose from the cobbled streets. She didn't know how he could stand the French Quarter. It was always loud, always crowded, and there was no place to park. Tears ago it had been lovely, much less touristy, more charming and authentic. But that had been a long time ago.
Ouida double-checked the apartment number and rang the bell.
"Yes?" a voice called from the upstairs balcony, and Ouida backed up into the street so he could see her. "Ouidat" said Jules, pleasure lighting his face. Til buzz you up!"
Ouida pushed the door when it buzzed and walked up the beautiful, floating staircase that curved around the courtyard to the second story. Jules had looked strained, she thought. He often did. He put so much pressure on himself.
As Ouida reached the landing, a tall wooden door opened, and Jules came out to hug her.
"Long time, old friend," he said, and she nodded into his shoulder. I'm glad you're here"
"What's going on?" Ouida said in a low voice, but Jules didn't answer, just led her into the front parlor. Ouida looked around. Daedalus had always had impeccable taste. This apartments balconies overlooked Chartres Street, with huge Boston ferns shielding the view a bit. Inside, graceful Empire furniture created an elegant, old-fashioned ambience. The whole effect was light, airy, and whispered old money.
"Ouida." Daedalus came forward, holding out his hands. They kissed formally on both cheeks and looked at each other. We always do this, Ouida thought. When we see other members of the Treize, we examine them like medical curiosities.
"How nice to see you, my dear," Daedalus said, "Come in, make yourself comfortable."
Ouida sank onto a delicate love seat. It had been hectic and difficult to arrange to come here. Fortunately, her research project could be put on hold, at least for a while. The chromosome samples weren't going anywhere. Daedalus had never summoned her like this, and she was curious,
"What's going on, Daedalus?" she asked as he handed her a tall, cold drink,
"You won't believe it," he said with a smile, sitting down opposite her, Jules sat down also. He didn't look nearly as cheerful as Daedalus did.
Ouida waited, Daedalus had always been a showman. Now he leaned forward, his blue eyes bright, energetic. "We can do the rite. We have a full Treize once more,"
"Wh…" Ouida began, but her voice failed her. She looked quickly from Daedalus to Jules, and Jules nodded in confirmation. The breath had left her lungs, and now she tried to get enough air to speak. "What do you mean? Surely Melita-"
Daedalus waved his hand impatiently. "God, no, I have no idea where Melita is. As far as anyone can tell, she was swallowed up by the earth right after she left. But now, at last, we have a full thirteen. Thirteen witches of the familie to perform the rite."
"How? Who?" Ouida asked. Emotions she hadn't felt in years flooded her brain. Memories, yearnings, things that happened so long ago it was as if they'd hap' pened to a completely different person.
"Twins," said Daedalus with great satisfaction, "From Cerises line. Identical female twins,"
"Twins? Where are they?" Ouida asked, so taken aback her head was swimming,
"Here, in New Orleans. said Jules, "It turns out Petra 's had one for the last seventeen years. And then last summer, Daedalus and I found the other. Quite by chance,"
Ouida frowned, thinking. "I saw Clio when she was a little girl. But she wasn't a twin,"
"Turns out she was," Jules said. " Petra had divided them and hidden one,"
"To prevent this from happening," Ouida understood immediately.
"Yes" Daedalus admitted. "But it isn't only Petras decision. It affects all of us. It's something we've always wanted"
"Ouida."
Ouida turned to see the voices owner. Her eyes met Richards intensely, and for a moment everything was quiet. Then she rose and went to him. Ouida was barely five-foot two, and her head fit neatly into Richards shoulder. They hugged for a long time until Richard drew back and smiled at her. "How was your flight?"
"It sucked," she said, smiling back. He knew she hated flying. She looked at his pierced eyebrow-that was new. He could get away with something like that, where it would look ridiculous on Jules or Daedalus. "You look very… young," she said, and he laughed.
"Love you, babe" he said, and went to pour himself a drink.
"So, these twins theoretically complete the thirteen," Ouida said, sitting back down, "But what about the actual rest of the Treize?"
"Petra is here, of course," said Daedalus, his eyes on Richard as he went to sit next to Ouida. "We haven't hashed out all the details-and I for one feel that she owes us a serious accounting of why she took matters into her own hands. Not telling us? Hiding a twin? She's done us all a great disservice. At best. But she's still one of us in the end, and I assume she wont let us down.
Sophie and Manon are arriving tomorrow, I believe. Everyone is coming."
Ouida looked at Daedalus knowingly. He was assuming a lot, and not only about Petra. "Everyone?" she questioned.
Daedalus shrugged. "We might have a few hitches. But everyone will be here soon."
Richard put his head back and tossed a pecan in the air, catching it expertly in his mouth. "Yeah. A few hitches. That's one way to put it."
"Claire?" Ouida asked, and Daedaluss face gave her the answer. "And… Marcel?"
Daedalus made an impatient gesture, "They will come.”
Richard met Ouidas eye. Clearly he was skeptical that Daedalus could get the last two members here. Ouida suddenly felt very tired. She leaned back against the heavy silk upholstery. "It isn't just the Treize," she said, "There are so many other factors."
'’All of which we've been working on," Daedalus said smoothly. "Everything is well under control. It could even happen by Recolte. But more likely by Monvoik"
Ouida found this all so hard to believe. After all this time, was this even what they wanted? Clearly Daedalus did. And Jules, But Richard? She looked at his young face. He looked back at her, and she found it hard to read his expression.
Abruptly she got up and put her glass on the table. "Well, this was certainly unexpected" she said. "It's a lot to think about. Right now I'm going to my B & B and sleep for a day"
Daedaluss eyes followed her. "Certainly, my dear. Rest. I know this is a lot to take in. Jules and I have had several months to absorb its implications. I know we'll be able to count on you when the time comes."
Ouida looked at him and didn't reply. She picked up her purse and walked to the door. “I'll be in touch." She let herself out, feeling three pairs of speculative eyes on her back.